Sponsors (3)
This resolution raises national attention to Black maternal health and supports expanding culturally congruent maternity care, but it is primarily symbolic and will not change outcomes unless followed by concrete funding, regulatory safeguards, and policy actions.
Women, especially Black women, and infants: the resolution spotlights Black maternal health by designating a national day and raising awareness of disparities, which can mobilize public attention and advocacy.
Pregnant people and newborns in communities with limited maternity care: the resolution highlights evidence that midwife-led, culturally congruent care lowers interventions and improves outcomes, strengthening the case for policies to expand such services.
Low-income, Medicaid beneficiaries, and residents of rural or maternity-care‑desert areas: the resolution calls for investment and policy changes to expand access to Black midwives, doulas, and community-based perinatal providers, which could increase care availability where it is most needed.
Women and Black birthing people: the designation is largely symbolic and contains no funding or enforceable programs, so it is unlikely to produce immediate improvements without subsequent legislation or appropriations.
Hospitals, health systems, and some patients: advocating removal of state restrictions on direct‑entry midwives could create regulatory, oversight, and liability concerns if not paired with standardized training and integration measures.
Taxpayers and local governments: calls for targeted investments or new spending priorities could require budget reallocations or added expenditures, producing trade‑offs with other programs if funds are limited.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Recognizes March 14, 2026 as Black Midwives Day to raise awareness of Black maternal health, midwifery's role, and structural drivers of disparities.
Introduced March 17, 2026 by Gwendolynne S. Moore · Last progress March 17, 2026
Designates March 14, 2026 as Black Midwives Day to raise awareness about Black maternal health disparities, the role of midwifery in improving outcomes, and structural drivers of those disparities (for example, maternity care deserts, structural racism, and criminalization of midwifery). The text highlights data on high maternal mortality for Black women and calls for investments and policy changes to expand access to Black midwives, doulas, and community-based perinatal care, while citing international recommendations to remove barriers to midwifery.